Pressurized dispensing package

ABSTRACT

A PRESSURIZED DISPENSING PACKAGE INCLUDING A STEM HAVING AN INTERIOR MIXING CHAMBER AND A DISCHARGE ORIFICE, A SEALING MEMBER CLOSING THIS ORIFICE, AN ACTUATOR BUTTON, INCLUDING AN EXIT APERTURE OPEN TO ATMOSPHERE, SECURED TO THE STEM AND RELATIVELY MOVEABLE THEREWITH TO OPEN THE DISCHARGE ORIFICE TO ATMOSPHERE THROUGH THE EXIT APERTURE, AND BIASING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE BUTTON AND STEM EXTERNALLY OF THE FLOW PATH OF MATERIAL FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE PACKAGE TO ATMOSPHERE. ALSO DESCRIBED IS A DELIVERY SYSTEM HAVING AN ANNULAR SEALING MEMBER AND COOPERATING ACTUATING AND SEALING GROOVES ON THE ACTUATOR AND STEM RESPECTIVELY FOR OPENING

United States Patent [72] Inventor Adolph R. Gailitis Winchester, Mass. [21] Appl. No. 819,628

[22] Filed Apr. 28, 1969 [45 1 Patented June 28, 1971 [73] Assignee The Gillette Company Boston, Mass.

[54] PRESSURIZED DISPENSING PACKAGE 20 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. ..222/402.24, 222/514 [5]] lnt.Cl. B65d 83/14 [50] Field of Search ..222/402.24, 144.5, 514, 513, 518, 512

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,686,652 8/1954 Carlson et a1.. ZZZ/402.24 2,837,249 6/1958 Meshberg 222/518X 3,220,617 11/1965 Veistrup ZZZ/518x FOREIGN PATENTS 232,885 4/1964 Austria 222/514 Primary Examiner- Raphael H. Schwartz Anomey Willis M. Ertman ABSTRACT: A pressurized dispensing package including a stem having an interior mixing chamber and a discharge orifice, a sealing member closing this orifice, an actuator button, including an exit aperture open to atmosphere, secured to the stem and relatively moveable therewith to open the discharge orifice to atmosphere through the exit aperture, and biasing means disposed between the button and stem externally of the flow path of material from the interior of the package to atmosphere. Also described is a delivery system having an annular sealing member and cooperating actuating and sealing grooves on the actuator and stem respectively for opening and closing the discharge orifice.

1 rasssumzan DISPENSING PACKAGE This invention relates to dispensing materials from pressurized containers and, particularly, to providing such containers for dispensing solid-containing compositions such as antiperspirants and starches.

An object of this invention is to provide a pressurized dispensing package having a small number of relatively moving parts, all simply constructed to provide a smooth and short material flow path from the package to atmosphere, and which may be operated by a minimal relative movement of these parts.

Another object is to provide a dispensing package in which the relatively moving parts are remote from the material flow path, so that these parts may remain free of residue material which can dry, during periods of nonoperation, on these parts, thereafter restricting or entirely stopping operation of the container.

Another object is to provide a dispensing package which is particularly useful for dispensing 'antiperspirants, starches, and other compositions having dissolved or suspended solid materials which may deposit, during periods of nonuse, on relatively moving container walls, or in restricted orifices leading from the container to atmosphere.

A further object is to provide a dispensing package for antiperspirants and the like which is capable of providing a fine, uniform spray of unvarying composition while maintaining its discharge orifices unclogged and operable throughout depletion of the material in the package.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing package of improved reliability and aesthetic appeal, having a simple, economical, readily assembled construction.

The invention features a pressurizeddispensing package for dispensing material under pressure which comprises a container for holding a material to be dispensed and a gas charge above the material; fixed stem structure including a mixing chamber communicating at one end with a material supply orifice and at the other end with a discharge orifice; a sealing member for closing this discharge orifice; an actuator button, secured to the stern for movement relative to the stem, including an exit aperture open at one end to atmosphere, and which is operable to move the sealing member from the discharge orifice and thereby open the discharge orifice to the exit aperture; and, biasing means disposed between the actuator button and the stem structure externally of the material flow path from the container through the discharge orifice and the exit aperture to atmosphere.

In a preferred embodiment, this actuator button includes a generally cylindrical cavity and the stem structure includes a generally cylindrical head, the cavity and head having slidingly engaged portions located between the biasing means and the exit aperture. Where the biasing means is a compression spring, recesses are provided in the top wallof the stemhead and in the opposing wall of the button cavity, these recesses being axially aligned and sized to accommodate opposite ends of the compression spring to prevent relative radial movement of the spring. Thus, the spring is out of the material flow path from the container to atmosphere, since it is separated from the exit aperture by two slidingly engaged surfaces, and, moreover, is telescoped in recesses in the stemhead and button cavity. If desired, the stemhead and button cavity may also be mutually constructed to provide an axial keyway and a slidingly engaged cooperating key element, which will maintain the button and stem in relative circumferential alignment while allowing relative axial movement in response to the forces applied against the compression spring to open the discharge orifice, and by the compression spring to reseal .this orifice. in a preferred embodiment, the key element is in the button and terminates adjacent the exit aperture.

A preferred stem structure includes also a substantially cylindrical portion beneath the head and surrounding the discharge orifice, the latter extending radially out through the stem structure from the mixing chamber. The sealing member is a resilient annular member which tightly surrounds the stem structure, and is sized to cover and thereby seal the discharge orifice. Preferably, this cylindrical portion of the stem structure is interrupted by a peripheral groove surrounding the discharge orifice for maintaining the annular sealing member therein. Cooperating with this sealing member is an upper inwardly extending shoulder on the actuator button, located between the exit aperture and the sealing member, having a portion aligned with the discharge orifice, and sized to bear upon the sealing member, during application of force to the actuator button against the biasing spring, to urge the sealing member away from the discharge orifice. Preferably, this shoulder is annular and of greater diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical stem portion surrounding the discharge orifree (the maximum diameter of the arcuate groove), whereby a material flow path is provided between the button andthel stem structure from the discharge orifice to the exit aperture;

Where the resilient sealing member is of toroidal shape (i.e., like an O-ring), the stem groove is of arcuate cross section, and, preferably, has a minimum diameter at least equal to the unstressed inner diameter of the sealing member, so that, the sealing member being able to stretch because of its resilient construction, it may be moved to an increased diameter portion of the groove in response to axial force applied by the shoulder. Upon removal of this force, the curvature of the groove, together with the elasticity of the O-ring, will tend to return the O-ring to reseal the discharge orifice. For more positive resealing the actuating button is preferably provided with a second lower inwardly extending annular shoulder, located on the opposite side of the sealing member, constructed in opposite sense to the upper shoulder and sized to bear upon the sealing member, during application of return force to the button by the baising spring, to urge the sealing member back along 'the arcuate groove to reseal the discharge orifice. These two annular shoulders are advantageously constructed so as to provide therebetween an annular groove of arcuate cross section to maintain the sealing member between the shoulders. Preferably this groove has substantially the same radius of curvature as the sealing member, to secure the sealing member firmly between the shoulders for positive ac tion movement of the sealing member in response to movement of the shoulders. Thus, the sealing member is maintained between two cooperating opposed annular grooves, the outer annular groove being axially movable, relative to the inner groove, to slide, roll, deform, or otherwise move the sealing member in the inner groove to open an aperture which is located centrally of the inner groove. Therefore, only a very slight movement of the actuator structure need be utilized to provide a material flow path from the container to atmosphere. And, this material fiow path may also be very short, since the exit aperture in the button can be located very closely adjacent the upper annular shoulder.

In the preferred embodiment, structure is also provided for limiting relative movement of the button and stem. This structure comprises portions of the button and stem, located at the. opposite end of the stem and button from the previously described cooperating head and cavity, which are mutually constructed to form a cooperating annular flange and annular recess, the recess having a predetermined greater axial extent than the flange, so that the flange is capable of predetermined limited axial movement in the recess corresponding to the.

desired relative movement of the actuator button and stem structure. in the described embodiment, this flange is located on the stern structure and the recess in the actuator button.

As described in the preferred embodiment, the exit aperture opens, on the exterior of the actuator button, to a dispensing face, and a boss is provided above the exit aperture for preventing material dispensed through the aperture from returning down along the dispensing face into the exit aperture. Preferably, this dispensing face takes the form of a segment of a cylinder, having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of the stem structure and actuator button, and also to the direction of discharge of material through the exit aperture, and having a circular projected area in a plane through this axis and perpendicular to the approximate discharge direction of material through the exit aperture. Thus material clinging to the dispensing face, after the desired amount of material has been dispensed through the exit aperture, is prevented from returning into the exit aperture by the boss above the aperture which detours material flowing down the upper dispensing face to the lower dispensing face, and hence away from the aperture.

Other objects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken together with the attached drawings thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional view of a portion of a pressurized dispensing package including a valve system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the valve system in the closed (nondispensing) position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the valve system in the open (dispensing) position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line 44 of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 5 is a front view of the dispensing face portion of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

In the FIGS. there is shown a portion of a pressurized dispenser, including an outer container 12, typically made of aluminum, having an opening defined by a flange portion 14, to which is secured mounting cup 16. Valve assembly 17 includes stem 18 and a cooperating button 20, stem 18 being secured to baw portion 22 and to mounting cup 16.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, base portion 22 has a lower cylindrical portion 25, an enlarged intermediate cylindrical section 26, and a reduced diameter upper cylindrical section 27. Dip tube 29 extends into container 12 for withdrawing material to be dispensed through its lower end and its upper end extends, through tapered opening 31, into cylindrical cavity 32 of base portion 22. A metering passage 33, having a diameter of 0.002 inch, connects cavity 32 through conical connecting portions 34, 35, to cylindrical mixing cavity 36. Connecting passage 37 and metering restriction 38, having a diameter of 0.020 inch, provide communication between the gas charge above the material in container 12, and mixing chamber 36, where above the gas charge is mixed with material received from dip tube 29.

Cylindrical bore 39 of stem 18 is press fitted to upper cylindrical section 27 of base portion 22. Annular flange portion 42 of stem 18 includes an outer wall 43, a tapered wall 44, a lower wall 45, and a perpendicular top wall 46 including an annular arcuate-shaped rim 47, on which is positioned an annular gasket 48. For assembly, gasket 48 is positioned on wall 46; mounting cup 16, in its flattened-out state, is then positioned over gasket 46 and crimped to conform to tapered wall 44 of flange 42.

Stem 18 defines the upper portion of mixing cavity 36, which has, at its upper end, a radially extending cylindrical discharge orifice, 0.020 inch in diameter and approximately 0.040 inch long. Annular shoulder 51, above cylindrical wall 50 (0.350 inch diameter) includes a lower wall 52, a cylindrical central portion 53 that has an outer diameter of 0.380 inch and an upper wall 54 which tapers back to an outer diameter of 0.285 inch at surface 55. Arcuate annular notch 56 above surface 55 has a minimum diameter of 0.265 inch at discharge orifice 49, and a diameter of 0.275 inch at surface 58. The upper end of stem 18 is a cylindrical head 60. Axially extending keyway 62 extends through section 60 between arcuate notch 56 and the top wall 63 of stem 18 (about 0.150 inch). Keyway 62 (FIG. 4) has a depth of 0.040 inch and an arcuate extent of about 60". A cylindrical spring chamber 64 is formed in top wall 63 of stem 18, the upper edge of chamber 64 being slightly chamfered for easy insertion of compression spring 65.

Button 20, which may be formed, e.g., of a plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene, includes a lower shoulder 70, of 0.355 inch inner diameter at wall 71 having a lower chamfered sidewall 73, for easy assembly of the stem and button, and an upper tapered sidewall 75, which mates with tapered sidewall 52 of stem shoulder 51. Sidewall'75 terminates in a cylindrical interior surface 78 having an inner diameter of 0.400 inch, located opposite end wall 53 of stem 18, a clearance of 0.010 inch being provided therebetween to permit relative axial movement thereof. Cylindrical surface 78 terminates in another tapered sidewall 79, which tapers at the same angle as sidewall 54 of shoulder 51.

O-ring 80 is retained between arcuate groove 56 and an opposing annular arcuate groove 81 in button 20, the latter having a minimum inner diameter of 0.340 inch and a radius of curvature approximately the same as that of the O-ring 80. Groove 56, on the other hand, has a larger radius of curvature, allowing O-ring 80 to slide or roll therein, but not in groove 81. Annular groove 81 is located between actuating shoulders 83, 84. Above shoulder 84 is cylindrical cavity 88 sized to slidingly engage head 60 of stem 18, for relative axial movement therewith. Key 91, which projects inwardly from surface 88, is sized to fit into keyway 62 to prevent relative rotational movement of stem 18 and button 20, and includes a lower actuating wall 92. in the upper wall of cavity 88 a cylindrical spring chamber 93 is aligned with spring chamber 64 in stem 18, for holding the opposite end of spring 65.

Button 20 is closed at its upper end 94 and includes, through exterior sidewall or dispensing face 95, an elongated exit aperture 96, at an upward angle of about 5 to the horizontal, having a diameter of 0.020 inch and a length of 0.025 inch, which communicates with an interior opening 97, 0.040 inch X 0.040 inch, above O-ring 80. The exterior of dispensing face 95 is defined by an inner cylindrical surface 98 formed in an outer cylindrical surface 99. The projected area of surface 98 in a plane normal to its radius is of circular shape. Surface 98 is interrupted by a semicylindrical boss 100, having a curved top surface 101, and a lower end 102 tangential to surface 98. Boss is about 0.120 inch wide and about 0. 100 inch high.

In operation, container 12 is filled with a material to be dispensed, and a gas charge is introduced above this material in the container. To dispense material, downward pressure is exerted on the top surface 90 of button 20, compressing spring 65 and causing relative movement of the button as seen .by comparing FIGS. 2 and 3. Shoulder 84 of button 20 and lower wall 92 of key 91 slides or rolls O-ring 80 downwardly along the surface of annular notch 56, removing the O-ring from sealing engagement with discharge orifice 49, while wall 78 of button 20 rides downwardly along shoulder wall 53 of stem 18. As discharge orifice 49 is opened and communicates with atmosphere through exit aperture 96, the resultant pressure drop in mixing cavity 36below that in container 12 causes material to be drawn up dip tube 29 through metering passage 33 into mixing cavity 36, and be mixed therein with gas flowing into the cavity through passage 37 and metering restriction 38 if the material is to be mixed with gas. Materials can also be discharged through orifice 49 to atmosphere through exit aperture 96 without mixing with gas, that is, without using gas passages 37, 38, which will be accordingly omitted. The mixture then flows through discharge orifice 49 and opening 97 out through exit aperture 96. By reason of the close fit between the surfaces of stem portion 60 and button portion 88, no significant amount of the mixture passes into the spring chambers 64,93, thus isolating spring 65 from the material being dispensed. O-ring 80 serves to prevent material from passing down into the region of shoulder 51 and cooperating surfaces 75, 78, 79, thus preventing buildup of material at these relatively movable points, as well as confining material release to exit aperture 96.

The maximum relative movement of button 20 is, of course, determined by the relative axial lengths of cylindrical wall portions 78 and 53, tapered walls 54, 79 engaging to limit relative downward movement of button 20 with respect to stem 18, and tapered walls 52, 75 engaging to limit relative upward movement.

Upon release of button 20, shoulder 83 of button returns O-ring 80 back along groove 56 to reseal discharge orifice 49.

The exit aperture 96 is protected, during discharge, and shortly after discharge, against dispensed material flowing back by boss surface 101, which detours material draining back along face portion 98 around aperture 96. Thus, aperture 96 remains free of material which could solidify therein, causing clogging, during periods between use of the dispensing package.

The described package also contains a minimum of parts which are readily assembled. Stem 18 is easily secured to the remainder of the container by inserting stub 27 of mixing base 22 into the cooperating press-fit bore 39 of stem 18, dropping gasket 48 onto flange $2, and crimping mounting cup 16 about the flange. O-ring 80 may then be snapped over the top of stem 18 into arcuate notch 56, sealing orifice 49. After spring 65 is placed into spring chamber 64, the button, aligned with the stem by virtue of cooperating keyway 62 and key 91, is inserted over the stem (engaging arcuate groove 81 with O- ring 80), until resilient shoulder 70 snaps over shoulder 51 of the button, spring 65 automatically urging the button and stem to the closed position.

The relatively short material flow path between apertures 49 and 96 minimizes the surface area of the dispensing package which will be open to atmosphere during periods of nonuse, and hence also the surface area upon which encrusted solids can build up. Thus, the concentration of solids in the discharge material will be determined substantially entirely by the composition of the material in the container, and hence may be controlled up to exhaustion of the contents of the package.

Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

l claim:

I. A pressurized dispensing package for dispensing material under pressure comprising:

a container for holding material to be dispensed and a gas charge above said material;

fixed stem structure including an annular groove in the outer surface of said stem structure and a passage communicating at one end with a material supply orifice and at the other end with a discharge orifice, said discharge orifice being disposed in said annular groove;

a resilient annular sealing member for closing said discharge an actuator button secured to the stem for movement orifice; to said stem including an exit aperture open at one end to atmosphere, operable to move said sealing member from said discharge orifice to open said discharge orifice to said exit aperture; and

biasing means disposed between said button and said stem externally of the material flow path from said container through said discharge orifice and said exit aperture to atmosphere.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein said actuator button includes a generally cylindrical cavity, and said stem structure includes a generally cylindrical head having a portion slidingly engaging a portion of said cavity, said slidingly engaged cavity and head portions being located between said biasing means and said exit aperture.

3. A pressurized dispensing package for dispensing material under pressure comprising:

a container for holding material to be dispensed and a gas charge above said material;

fixed stem structure including a head portion and a mixing chamber communicating at one end with a material supply orifice and at the other end with a discharge orifice;

a sealing member for closing said discharge orifice;

an actuator button having a cavity disposed over the head portion of said stem structure for sliding movement relative to said stem including an exit aperture open at one end to atmosphere, operable to move said sealing member from said discharge orifice to open said discharge orifice to said exit aperture;

a compression spring disposed between said button and said stern externally of the material flow path from said container through said discharge orifice and said exit aperture to atmosphere; and

the top wall of saidstem head having a first recess and a second recess in the opposing wall of said actuator button, said recesses axially aligned and sized to accommodate the opposite end portions of said spring therein to prevent relative radial movement of said spring.

4. A pressurized dispensing package for dispensing material under pressure comprising:

a container for holding material to be dispensed and a gas charge above said material;

fixed stem structure including a head portion and a mixing chamber communicating at one end with a material supply orifice and at the other end with a discharge orifree;

a sealing member for closing said discharge orifice;

an actuator button having a cavity disposed over the head portion of said stern structure for sliding movement relative to said stem including an exit aperture open at one end to atmosphere, operable to move said sealing member from said discharge orifice to open said discharge orifice to said exit aperture;

biasing means disposed between said button and said stem externally of the material fiow path from said container through said discharge orifice and said exit aperture to atmosphere; and

said stem head and said button cavity being mutually constructed to provide an axial keyway and a slidingly engaged cooperating key element to maintain said button and stem in relative circumferential alignment while allowing relative axial movement thereof. 7

5. The package of claim 4 wherein said key element is formed in said button and terminates adjacent said exit aperture.

6. A pressurized dispensing package for dispensing material under pressure comprising:

a container for holding material to be dispensed and a gas charge above said material; fixed stem structure including a head portion and a mixing chamber communicating at one end with a material supply orifice and at the other end with a discharge orifice;

and a substantially cylindrical portion beneath said head surrounding said discharge orifice, said discharge orifice extending radially through said stem structure from said mixing chamber, a resilient annular element tightly surrounding said stem structure and sized to cover and thereby seal said discharge orifice;

an actuator button having a cavity disposed over the head portion of said stern structure for sliding movement relative to said stem including an exit aperture open at one end to atmosphere, operable to move said sealing member from said discharge orifice to open said discharge orifice to said exit aperture; and

biasing means disposed between said button and said stem externally of the material flow path from said container through said discharge orifice and said exit aperture to atmosphere.

7. The package of claim 6 wherein said actuator button includes an inwardly extending actuating shoulder, between said exit aperture and said sealing member, sized to bear upon said sealing member at least adjacent said discharge orifice, during application of force to said button against said biasing spring, and urge said sealing member away from said discharge orifice, said annular shoulder being of greater diameter than the diameter of said cylindrical portion surrounding said discharge orifice, whereby a material flow path is provided between said button and said stem structure from said discharge orifice to said exit aperture.

8. The package of claim 7 wherein said stem includes a peripheral reduced diameter portion adjacent said discharge orifice for seating said sealing member.

9. The package of claim 8 wherein said sealing member is toroidal, and said groove is of arcuate cross section having a greater radius of curvature than the cross-sectional radius of curvature of said sealing member.

10. The package of claim 9 wherein the minimum diameter of said groove is at least equal to the unstressed inner diameter of said sealing member, and said sealing member is capable of enlarging its said diameter by moving to an increased diameter portion of said groove in response to axial force applied by said shoulder.

11. The package of claim 7 wherein said actuating shoulder is annular and contacts said sealing member around its entire periphery.

12. The package of claim 10 wherein said actuating button includes a second lower inwardly extending annular shoulder, located on the opposite side of said sealing member from said first annular shoulder, constructed in opposite sense to the upper said annular shoulder, and sized to bear upon said sealing member, during application of return force of said button by said biasing means to urge said sealing member to reseal said discharge orifice.

13. The package of claim 12 wherein said sealing member is toroidal and said button includes an annular groove or arcuate cross section between said shoulders, said groove having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the radius of curvature of said sealing member and in contact with a mating peripheral portion of said sealing member.

14. A pressurized dispensing package for dispensing material under pressure comprising:

a container for holding material to be dispensed and a gas charge above said material;

fixed stem structure including a head portion and a mixing chamber communicating at one end with a material supply orifice and at the other end with a discharge orifice;

a sealing member for closing said discharge orifice;

an actuator button having a cavity disposed over the head portion of said stem structure for sliding movement relative to said stem including an exit aperture open at one end to atmosphere, operable to move said sealing member from said discharge orifice to open said discharge orifice to said exit aperture;

biasing means disposed between said button and said stem externally of the material flow path from said container through said discharge orifice and said exit aperture to atmosphere; and

structure for limiting relative movement of said button and said stem comprising portions of said button and stem, located at the opposite ends of said stem and button from said head and cavity, respectively, mutually constructed to form a cooperating annular flange and annular recess, said recess having a predetermined greater axial extent than said flange, whereby said flange is capable of predetermined limited axial movement in said recess corresponding to the relative movement of said button and said stem.

15. The package of claim 1 wherein said button includes an exterior dispensing face, said exit aperture opens through said face, and a boss is provided above said aperture for preventing material dispensed from said package from returning along said dispensing face into said exit aperture.

16. A pressurized dispensing package for dispensing material under pressure comprising:

a sealing member for closin said dischar e orifice, an actuator button secure to the stem or movement relative to said stem including an exit aperture open at one end to atmosphere, operable to move said sealing member from said discharge orifice to open said discharge orifice to said exit aperture, said button having an exterior dispensing face through which said exit aperture opens with a boss above said aperture for preventing material dispensed from said package from returning along said dispensing face into said exit aperture;

said dispensing face being cylindrical in shape, and having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the direction of relative movement of said stem structure and said actuator button and substantially perpendicular to the direction of material discharge through the exit aperture, and a projected circular area in a plane perpendicular to the said direction of material discharge; and

biasing means disposed between said button and said stem externally of the material flow path from said container through said discharge orifice and said exit aperture to atmosphere.

17. In a pressurized dispensing package including a container for holding material to be dispensed and a gas charge above the material;

a delivery system for opening said container to the atmosphere to dispense material form said container, comprising:

stem structure fixed to said container and defining a first peripheral groove of arcuate cross section surrounding said stern structure and a first orifice in said groove and communicating with said container;

an annular sealing member seated in said groove and normally sealing said first orifice; and

actuator structure movable relative to said stem structure, defining a cavity surrounding said stem structure and a second orifice communicating with atmosphere and with the interior of said cavity, said actuator structure including an actuating shoulder extending into said cavity adjacent said first orifice, located between said sealing member and said second orifice, and sized to urge said sealing member along the arcuate surface of said groove to open said first orifice upon relative movement of said actuator in an open direction, and to provide thereby a material flow path between said stern structure and said actuator structure from said first orifice to said second orifice.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said actuating shoulde is annular, and said actuator structure includes a second interiorly extending annular shoulder located on the opposite side of said sealing member and sized to urge said sealing member arcuately back along said groove to reseal said first orifice upon relative movement of said actuator in a closed direction.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said sealing member is toroidal.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said actuator structure includes a second peripheral groove between said shoulders having substantially the same radius of curvature as the crosssectional radius of curvature of said sealing member, and said first peripheral groove has a greater radius of curvature than said second groove.

PO-1050 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 569) CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Pat NO- 3587,9 12 Dafied June 28 1am Invent0r( AdOlDh R Gni'litis It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 2 4, "container" should be --containers--.

Column 3, line 39 "0.002" should be --0.020--;

line 4 4, delete "above" after "where".

Column 5, lines 47- 18 after "movement" change "orifice" to ---relative-.

Column 7, line 26, change "or" to of--.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of December 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents 

